Former Eurovision star Ryan Dolan wrote; “I'm so so gutted #Ireland didn't make it to the final!! @kaseykaysmith you did amazing and done us all proud!! #ESC2014”

Kasey was accompanied by the five-member traditional Irish music group Can-Linn as she performed on the Copenhagen stage.

But Kasey's time in the spotlight proved short-lived despite a plucky performance. While history was in our favour – we're been in eight semi-finals and qualified from five – last night we weren't one of the 10 countries to qualify from the group of 15.

Norway's ballad 'Silent Storm' and Romania's 'Miracle' lived up to their billing as favourites and sailed through to the next round.

Greece's rap number 'Rise Up' and the pumped-up power ballad 'Rise Like a Phoenix', sung by the bearded drag queen from Austria, Conchita Wurst, also stirred the crowd.

Montenegro, Hungary, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, San Marino, Ukraine, Sweden, the Netherlands and Iceland are all also through to the final.